It just sounds like a slightly different philosophy. I haven't had time to read this whole mammoth thread, but I thought your kids were in a private school with class sizes of 10-12 kids per class? Do I have you mixed up with someone else?
I think there is also a fundamental philosophical difference between the U.S. and most of Europe with regard to parental role in education. Schools in Europe tend to want parents to butt out of academic matters altogether ("leave that up to the teachers"). The philosophy tends to be "we know how to teach the kids so let us do our jobs". If anything Swedish schools tend to encourage more participation on the part of the parents than, say, German or Austrian schools. However, participation tends to focus more on parents ensuring their kids come to school well-fed, well-rested and with homework completed. A lot of information is given to parents regarding the curriculum and feedback is welcome, but parents are not expected to have to explain the concepts to the kids...that's viewed as the teacher's job.
More than 50% of the kids in ds' class speak a language other than Swedish at home. I think there are at least 3 other kids with two home languages. It would be simply unreasonable to expect all of those parents to be able to help explain concepts taught in Swedish.
My children go to a small public school. IME, the teachers want us to stay away from helping with homework from about the middle of the 3rd grade unless there is an underlying problem. As a parent of a 4th, 6th, 8th grader, my only involvement with homework is to ask if its done.
That doesn't mean I don't know what my children are studying.
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I don't get it.
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Ducky
I think there is also a fundamental philosophical difference between the U.S. and most of Europe with regard to parental role in education. Schools in Europe tend to want parents to butt out of academic matters altogether ("leave that up to the teachers"). The philosophy tends to be "we know how to teach the kids so let us do our jobs". If anything Swedish schools tend to encourage more participation on the part of the parents than, say, German or Austrian schools. However, participation tends to focus more on parents ensuring their kids come to school well-fed, well-rested and with homework completed. A lot of information is given to parents regarding the curriculum and feedback is welcome, but parents are not expected to have to explain the concepts to the kids...that's viewed as the teacher's job.
More than 50% of the kids in ds' class speak a language other than Swedish at home. I think there are at least 3 other kids with two home languages. It would be simply unreasonable to expect all of those parents to be able to help explain concepts taught in Swedish.
My children go to a small public school. IME, the teachers want us to stay away from helping with homework from about the middle of the 3rd grade unless there is an underlying problem. As a parent of a 4th, 6th, 8th grader, my only involvement with homework is to ask if its done.
That doesn't mean I don't know what my children are studying.
Really?
PumpkinAngel
Does he have a book?
PumpkinAngel
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Ducky
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Ducky
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